Program Overview

Application Process

The Neonatal-Perinatal Fellowship Program requires a degree of Doctor of Medicine or Osteopathy and successful completion of three years of general pediatric training in an ACGME accredited program.

Requirements

Applicants need to apply through the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS). The application process consists of:

1. A completed application form with personal statement
2. Medical school transcripts
3. USMLE (or COMLEX) transcript
4. Three letters of reference

Process

MyERAS website opens to fellowship applicants in early June for applicants to register and begin working on their applications. The ERAS post office opens in mid July for programs to begin downloading applications. Applicants are required to complete their application packet in ERAS prior to receiving an offer for an interview.

Fellowship positions are selected through the National Residency Matching Program (NRMP). All applicants also need to register with NRMP to enter the match. Competitive applicants will be invited for an interview, which will consist of a meeting with the program director, a tour of the facility, lunch with the current fellows, and interviews by selected faculty and staff.

Evaluation and Selection

Each interviewer completes an evaluation and rates the individual relative to previous applicants. No applicant will be considered for the program without an interview. Upon completion of the interview process for all viable candidates, a rank list is generated and submitted to the NRMP. This list is generated by the faculty members of the Division of Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine in a formal meeting prior to the submission deadline.

The order of the rank list is based upon those candidates who are considered to have the strongest potential with regard to:

• Clinical skills
• Ability to develop into a competitive, independent investigator or clinical educator
• Personal attributes that promote leadership, teamwork, responsibility, sensitivity, and compassion for others

Post-Match Process

Once the results of the match are known, the selected fellows are contacted and offered a contract for the corresponding academic year. Orientation materials are supplied in the spring prior to the beginning of the first year of appointment.

Additional Screening Requirements

The Joint Commission has clarified HR Standard 1.20 to provide that hospitals are now required to screen trainees in the same manner as staff employed by the hospital if the trainees work in the same capacity as staff that provides care, treatment, and services. In order to meet this standard and continue to provide safe, quality patient care and excellent educational opportunities, the GME has implemented additional screening requirements for trainees. These additional requirements are consistent with the requirements imposed on other employed staff. House staff paid by University Hospital or the University of Texas Health Science Center are required to successfully pass all screening requirements, including a criminal background check, prior to beginning their training at this institution.